Vers op de zes vrijdagse gebeurtenissen rond prins Willem IV, 1711-1752 1752

Editor: This print, titled "Vers op de zes vrijdagse gebeurtenissen rond prins Willem IV, 1711-1752," was created anonymously in 1752. It looks like an engraving on textile. It seems to commemorate the life of Prince Willem IV, but what strikes me is the repetitive emphasis on "Friday" and wondering about its importance. How do you interpret this work? Curator: The relentless repetition of “Friday” serves as a key to understanding this memorial print. Consider the cultural memory associated with Friday—a day linked to both good fortune and religious solemnity across various traditions. What do you think could be the emotional effect of this association with Prince William? Editor: Well, it seems deliberate, almost like imprinting this prince’s life with a sense of divine ordination and perhaps bittersweet fate? The list feels structured. Curator: Precisely. Each listed Friday event -- his birth, marriage, appointment, the birth of his son, his death, and burial -- marks a significant transition in his life and rule, a visual structure. Do you think there is an implied narrative? Editor: I suppose that, even without knowing Dutch, one can see the beginning and ending as hopeful and mournful at once. To have birth and death connected in such a way makes you consider larger ideas of legacy. Curator: The artist is building Prince William’s narrative by framing all of life’s key moments in the singular symbolism of this repeated, commemorative "Friday." What we see here is the deliberate creation of a ruler’s legacy steeped in the complex cultural significance of a single day of the week, using an appeal to both the intellect and emotions. Editor: That's fascinating! I didn’t realize how much cultural weight a simple day could carry. Thanks for pointing out how these repeated visual and verbal cues can create a powerful, lasting narrative.